Apparatus for marking or cutting pipes



Nov. 20, 1945. w w. w Ns 2,389,286

APPARATUS FOR MARKING OR CUTTING PIPES Filed Jan. 6, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 20, 1945. w. WQWATKINS 2,389,286

APPARATUS-FOR MARKING OR CUTTING PIPES Filed Jan. 6, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- WIIIIIIII/ll Fig.2

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Patented Nov. 20, i945 APPARATUS FOR MARKING OR CUTTING PIPES Wilfrid Weatherston Watkins, Helensburgh, Scotland 7 Application January 6, 1944, Serial No. 517,259

In Great Britain January 13, 1943 11 Claims.

This invention comprise an apparatus for use in cutting pipes or for use in marking off pipes preparatory to cutting same.

In laying pipes, for instance oil pipes, it is occasionally necessary to form an angle in the course of a pipe in order say to pass an obstacle. In order to form an angle adjacent end of pipelengths are cut in situ at predetermined oblique angles so that the said pipe lengths will lie at the required angle with respect to eachother. Heretofore considerable time and much skill has been required in cutting the adjacent ends of adjacent pipes at the predetermined obliquities. Much of the requisite time and skill are involved in marking on the circumference of each pipe a line in an oblique plane along which line the pipe is subsequently to be cut. I

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable apparatus usable in situ and adapted to deal with pipes of variou sizes and for obliquities of any desired angularity by which both the time and the skill involved in marking on a pipe an oblique end will be much reduced. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as aforesaid by which an oblique end can be cut in a pipe at practically a single operation without need for preliminary marking of the line of cut.

The apparatus is or may be the same for marking and for cutting, except that a marking device is used for marking and a cutting device is used for cutting. AS the operation performed in each case by the apparatus is in effect a forming operation, namely an operation of marking the form of an oblique end on a pipe or an operation of cutting an end of oblique form on a pipe, the apparatus for performing either or each of said operations is hereinafter and in the claims termed an apparatus for forming an oblique end on a pipe wherever the context so admits andthe device whereby the form is marked or cut is correspondingly termed a former.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for forming-an oblique end on a pipe such apparatu to comprise the combination of an assembly which is adapted to be stationarily affixed on the end of the pipe and which therefore may be termed a stator, an assembly which is rotatable around said stator and the pipe and which, therefore may be termed a rotor, a former which is a part of said rotor and is adapted to adopt a working positionin relation to the pipe circumference, and a swash plate which is a part of the stator and therefore amxed to the pipe, and which can be set at the obliquity at which the pipe end is to be formed, the combination to be such that in the rotation of the rotor the former is carried thereby around the pipe and in the rotational movement is constrained by the swash plate to v move also axially in conformity with the obliquity thereof. Thus, the formation due to the work of the former will be an obliquity parallel to the plane of the swash plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an apparatus as aforesaid, a former which is radially adjustable to suit the diametral size of the pipe, so that the former will mov around the swash plate in a track which in axial rojection is circular and which in diameter is similar to the pipe.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus according to this invention in which the former hereinbefore referred to is shown as a pipe cutter; and Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections approximately on the line 3,3 of Fig. 1, and the line 44 of Fig. 1, respectively.

Figs. 5 to 11 are diagrammatic sectional views of portions of pipes cut with oblique ends by the apparatus of the invention. Figs. 5, 6 and 8 are drawn to a small scale and Figs. 7, 9, l0 and 11 are drawn to a large scale.

Fig. 12 is an elevation of an apparatu according to the invention but incorporating various modifications.

In Figs. 1 to 4 the invention is shown as applied to an apparatus for cutting oblique ends on pipes; As shown, the apparatus includes a stator of which the main components are a chuck 20, 2|

securable to the extremity of a pipe 22 to be cut with an oblique end, a bos 23 extending centrally from the chuck, an axial extension 24 on the boss and an angularly adjustable swash plate 25 on the extension. As shown,-the apparatus also includes a rotor of which the main components are a nave or central collar 26, a slider 21 which constitutes a holder, a finger 28 held atone end of the slider 21 and a cutter 29 held attheother end of said slider.

The said chuck consists of a circular plate 20 having on one face an annular peripheral flange 2|. spaced screws 30 which are manipulated to bite into the circumference of the pipe 22 close to the Threaded through said flange are three equithe inner channels form a rigid anti-friction- The pairs of channels extend axially, that is parallel 'to the common axis slideway for the slider.

of the pipe, the stator and the rotor. Therefore the slider 21 is axially slidable with considerable torch. In the example the cutter 29 is mounted on a slide block 57 which is slidable in an arcuately slotted quadrant 58 on the bar 54. The quadrant has an angular graduated scale 59 indicative of the position of the block 51 in its slot and therefore of the angular relationship of the :cutter 2.9 to the axis -of-the pipe.

The arrangement of 'th'elinger 28 andithe cutter 29 is such that they act on the swash plate $2.5 and the pipe 22 respectively in the same axial plane, in the drawing the vertical plane contain- ""mgthecommon'axis'of the pipe, stator and rotor;

and in use of the apparatus the finger and cut- -ter -areeradiallyadiusted to act at the same radial freedom from friction but with rigid constraint by the slideway 34 against. bending or skewing in its axial motion.

I he swash plate is a circular plate that is formed with a central -slot36 fitting neatly on the ex-tension 2'4, the sectional form of which is square, the slot being long en'ough to permit the swash plate to be set at full obliquity in both directions. In order that the swash plate will be angularly adjustablefit is mounted on atrunnionpin 3-I"-w'hi'ch extends transversely through the extension 24. Near the cent-re-of'the swash plate a group of four blocks 38,18; 39 end w are secured to it. -The blocks 38 are bolted to the face of the swash-plate alongside" the extensional and the trunnion-"pin ends project between "said blocks '38 and "the swash plate. The bloksi-SB, 40 are 'attherear of theswash plate, being secured alongside the extension 24 by the samejb'olts as the blocks 36. The block lfl serves also aslilollhting for 'aprotractor 4l, made as a serni circularbracket, on the rear of the swash plate. fIhe-protractor has a "slot dz-penetrated bya screw having a wing nut 43'by which the swash plate"'rs locked to the extension *24 at" any chosen obliquity'to'the axisthereo'f'. A scale '44 on the of'theprotra'ctor 'indicatestiie angle of obliquity of the swash plate. It willibe seen that the adjustment of'the swash plate is diametrah 'that is the axis "of the pivotal connection31;"is;a1diamete'r of the circular swash plate;

The finger '28 cooperatesw'rth the face of'the swash plate 25 hard against which the 'finger islcontinuously fforcedby the axial slider '2! under the pull of springs 45 which are anchored by .apin .46 to the arm .33 and are attached by a .pin 74.1 to saids'lider. Slo'ts'433 in the 'wbs'of the..slider channels..are penetrated by the anohorage pin 16 -and permit the axial motion of the slider. v The finger as hasaslotdapenetrated by-a Jscrew LED on the slider, which screw has a wing.tnittoseduretheifinger to the slider. The

arrangement issuchthat thefinger can be radially adjusted, .that is to and .fronithe rotor axis. The finger has .a graduated linear scale .51 -indicative of the radial setting of the. finger. The finger isfittedwith ananti-friction steel ball 52 to. give point contact with .the swashplate, which provides for said ball a circular track around theaxisof the rotor.

flhQOsiteendgof the-slider 21 vhasan extension rod 53whichicarries ashort barili hav- -.distance from said axis, as required by the diametralsize. of the pipe.

Thei'a'pparatus has gearing by which to rotate "'the'rotor. Inthe example the gearing comprises bevel'twheel 60 secured to the rotor nave 26 and a bevel pinion 6| on a double-ended cross-shaft B2 journalled "in' the 'stator "extension 24. A crank-handle 63 is provided for attachment to either end of the cross-shaft in order that 'a worker can rotate the/rotor. As'the handle 63 willfoul-partspf therot'or if the handle is retained onthe same end of'the' cross-shaft, the handle must {be unshipped prior to fouling and transferredto thepth'erishaft end.

in Figs; 1 to 3, the swash plate :25 is shown in -a'zero .or neutral setting; In useo'f the apparatus,'the cswash plate is pivotable aboutithe diametralpin 531 in either direction into any desiredangular setting.

'Ei'gszl .an'd"2 theapparatus is shown with the 'protrac'tor .41 and"the crank ha'n'clle s'l'iaftlil vertical; it maybe found preferablejin practice to .set the apparatus with said parts 41 and-"62 horizontal; that is, as though Eigfl were .a ,plan view of 'the apparatus.

The apparatus isreadilypor'tableso thatlit can be fmoved aboutyas reguiredfin-the laying of a pipe line 'for use atpla'ceswhere workshop facilities are not available.

Referrin nowitoiFig. 5,1suppose that .22 repreemits a portion .of a pip line which is to .be angularl'yvcl'efiect'ed"finite .its course as indicated by the inclined pipe portion 6'4 shown dotdash lines. The .pipe 211s. out with an oblique end 165 which .gets weldedlto .thead-J'acent-end .of

ine'a slot penetrated by.a screw witha wing nut r The. arrangement is such that the bar. 5 4 can abe radially adjusted, that is to and from the pipe axis. The .bar :54 has (a graduatedv linear scale: 1&6 iindicatiye ::of :the radial setting of a said bar. The-bar. :carries the pi-pe-cutter .29. which in the example is an oxy-acetylene burner or the ,pipe 731, .saidiad'jacent .end cut :at oomplementali obliquity.

Assume .nowlthat the pipe 22.'has its initial normal end131l, .as .in Fig. l, =anilis to .be cut by .use of "the apparatus .so. as to have .the oblique end 65.. Thelchnclsllil is secured by the screws 30 to the pipe. in precise axialialignment'therewithl', fIIlie. swash plate. .is Langularly adjusted "to precisely the.Qsame.angle .o'fobliquity as that at whichthe llpilie .isto be cut, .Cflhelcutter 29 .-is radially adjusted inwards tothe proper working distance from the nine .circumference.;..and.-the finger .23 .is radially adjusted to the same :extent. One. worker manipulates Lthe :-handle E3 3:Iid"anothenlcontrols .the cutter whichuis new set in action. 1 7 f Suppose .that .the pipeisathinpne for-instance as indicated .diagrammatically by, Figs. -.6 land-37:. In that event the. radially,- riireotetd putter :may. be an gularlygset' andtheld-with. its slide block at in thecentral :setting mine-quadrant 58, as in-- dicated by-theanrow .EEin-Jiig. 7. V

ns uppose Zinsteadthat the .pipe is arthiok one, for:- instance (87S .-.indicateddiagrammaticaltyihy satisfactory joint face may be provided at the pipe end, it may be desirable tocut the pipe at a progressively varying angle to the pipe axis such that the pipe end face lies in the plane 61, 6'! of the oblique end. This progressive variation can be controlled manually with sufficient accuracy to suit practical requirements. To effect the angular variation, the worker grasps the radiall directed cutter and slides the cutter block 5! to and fro in the quadrant 58 as cutting progresses in the rotation of the rotor. To aid the worker, longitudinal marks may be made On the pipe at positions of 90, 180 and 270, as indicated by the marks 68, 69 and '10 representative of 0, 90 and 270, respectively. Additional marks at intermediate angles may be made. At the commencement, the radially directed cutter then being'at the 0 mark 68, the worker holds the cutter in the central po sition (as at 56 in Fig. 7). Then as cutting progresses he slides the cutter block i uniformly in the appropriate direction to attain the maximum displacement of the still radially directed cutter as indicated at H in Fig. 9 (equal to the angle of obliquity of th pipe end) when the 90 mark 69 is reached. Then he reverses the direction, returning the cutter block conformly to pass through the central position when the 180 mark is reached by the cutter, and continuing until the opposite maximum displacement is attained when the 2'70 mark if! is reached as indicated by :2 in Fig, 10. Finally, he again reverses the cutter, returning it uniformly to attain the central position when the 360 or 0 mark 63 is reached.

In the last-mentioned mode of controlling the angularity of the radially directed cutter, the

worker varie the angular relationship between the cutter and the ipe axis with the object of maintaining-the radial direction of cut in the oblique plane 67, 5'! of the pipe end 65. Instead, in order to facilitate the subsequent welding operation, the worker may vary the angular relationship between the cutter and pipe axis with the object of maintaining the radial direction of cut at an appropriate acute angle to said plane. 7 That is to say, the worker displaces the cutter to and fro through the same total angle while the work of cutting progresses, but he uses as the midposition of the cutter not the zero mark of the quadrant scale 59 but a mark at the desired acute angle from the zero mark. The operation is illustrated diagrammatically by Fig. 11, in which arrow 13 indicates the radial direction of cut at mark 69 and i4 indicates the acute angle' between said direction and the plane 57, 6'1. As Fig. 11 shows, a groove of V-form in cross-section is provided in this way for welding material between the two pipes 22 and 64 to be welded together.

Thus it will be manifest that b mounting the cutter on the angularly adjustable slide block 51,

the cutter has a pivotal mounting on its holder 2! so as to be angularly adjustable to cut in the pipe an end face of chosen angularity to the plane of obliquity 61, 61 of the pipe end. The chosen angle may be zero, as Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show, or it may be an acute angle, as Fig. 11 shows.

In practice, the workers do not make a continuous cut around the pipe, because by so doing they would sever from the pipe the extremity thereof to which the apparatus is afiixed. Instead, the workers leave say two short bridges of uncut metal at points 180 apart so that the pipe extremity is not severed by use of the a paratus. After the apparatus is detached from the pipe the bridges are cut by burning or otherwise.

The apparatus shown by way of example in Figs. 1 to 4 is open to modification in any on of various features illustrated collectively b Fig- 12, in which parts similar to those already described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 have the same reference numerals. I

In the first-mentioned example, the axially slidable part hereinbefore called a former is represented as a cutter which is angularly adjustable. Instead, the former may be directly secured to the axially adjustable holder arm 54, as Fig. 12 shows.

The former need not be a cutter; instead it may be a marker as indicated by Fig. 12 in which 15 denotes a spring-urged pencil in a holder 16 secured to the arm 54.

In the first-mentioned example, the slider 2'! has a finger which is forced by spring action against the face of the swash plate 25. In the construction according to Fig. 12, the slider is positively moved m both directions by the swash plate itself, both sides of which are active, and springs are not used. As shown, the slider has a radially adjustable double-fingered arm I? whose ballended fingers l8 engage opposite side of the swash plate 25. I

In the Fig. 12 construction, it is not so desirable that an anti-friction support be provided for the slider 2'1; as shown, the slider is mounted in axially spaced plain bearings 19 provided in a rotor frame'iltl. The rotor frame is shown as having plain central bearings 8| journalled on the stator boss 23 and a journal on the extension 24.

The gearing for turning the rotor comprises a gearwheel 32 secured to the outer of the bearings 81. The gearwheel is a wormwheel and meshes with a worm 83 journalled in a stationary bracket 84 on the extension 24, the worm-shaft being fitted with the handle 63.

In Fig. 12 the swash plate 25 i shown in'an oblique setting, the line traced on the pipe 22 by the marker '15 being denoted by 86.

I claim:

1. A portable apparatus for forming an oblique end on a pipe comprising a central stator to be fixed to the end portion of the pipe and to extend away from the pipe coaxially therewith and a. rotor journalled on said stator for rotation about the common axis of the stator and pipe, said stato having means for affixing it to the pipe end portion and a swash-plate track which encircles and is angularly adjustable on said stator so as to be in a plane of predetermined obliquity to said axis, and said'rotor having an axially movable holder which in rotation with said rotor engages said track so as to move axially in conformity with the obliquity thereof and a former held by said holder in working relationship with the pipe so as to perform thereon the required oblique end forming operation under the control of said track and holder in the rotation of the rotor.

2. A portable apparatus fo forming an oblique end on a pipe comprising a stationary structure adapted to be affixed to the end portion of the pipe and to extend away from the pipe, a support rotatably mounted on said stationary structure but restrained against lengthwise motion relative thereto, a former carried around said pipe by said support in the rotation thereof, said former being mounted on said support to move lengthwise of the pipe but being restrained '3. jAnapparatus as claimed in .claimi2 in which the oblique trackxis presented l by a circular plate having a 'diametral pivotal connection with :s'aild stationary structure, means for looking said plate in adjusted "position about said pivotal con- ,nection and a aprotractor fo indicating the obliquity ofsaid'plate.

:4. apparatus as claimed in claim liin which said track is presented by a-circular swash-plate having a diametral pivotal connection With'sa'id stator, means for locking said platein adziusted position about said pivotal connection and-a protractor ;for indicating the iobli'quity of said plate.

5. A portable apparatus for making an'oblique formation ona pipe near a normal end face thereof comprising a central stator, means on said stator for securing it to said end face-so that 'the stator extends away from the pipe with its axis in aligmnent with the pipe axis, a rotor journalled on said stator for rotation around its axis and restrained against axial motion, co-opcrating gearwheels one of which is provided on the central stator and one of which is provided on the rotor, one of said gearwheelsbein'g turnable to rotate the rotor, a swash-platetra'ck encircling said stator and-secured thereto so as to be angularly adjustable in order to occupy any desired plane of obliquity to the stator axis, a holder carried by said rotor, said holder being arranged for' axial"movemen-t but constrained against rotary movement relatively to the rotor, a follower on said holder engaging said track so as "to move the holder axially in conformity with the obliquity of "the track, and a former held by said holder in Working relationship with the pipe so asto make ithe'required oblique format'ion under the control of said trackin the rotation of the rotor by operation of said gearing.

6. An apparatus as claimed by claim 5 in which the means for securing the stator to'the normal end face of the pipe comprises a chuckprovided centrally on the stator and adapted to come' fiat against said "face, a flange on said chuck to encircle the pipe end and screws threaded "through said flange to bite into the outer peripheryof the pipe end. 7

'7. A portable apparatus "for cutting oif 'an end portion from a pipe having a normal end'iace in order to form ano'bl-iqueend face, such apparatus comprising a central stator, a chuck on said stator for securing .it to the end portion to be out 01f and against said en'diface so that the stator extends away from the: pipe with" its axis in alignment with the pipe axis, a rotor jo'urnalled on said stator'forrotationvaround awswash-zplate trackdiametrically secured to said stator so as to'be angularly adjlistable about a diameter of said track inorder tooccupyany desired plane ofobliquity to the stator axis, a holder carried by said rotor, saidholder being arranged foraxialmovement only in relation'to the rotor, a follower on said holder engaging said track so as to move the holder axially conformity with the obliquity of the track, and'a *fomnerheld by said holder in working relationship with-the pipe soas toimake the required oblique formation under the :oontr'ol ofsaid traok du'ring the rotation of the rotor.

8; A portable apparatus for making an oblique formation on a pipe near a normal end face thereof comprising a stator; means on said stator for securing it to said end face so that-the stator extends from the pipe with its-axis in alignment with the pipe axis, a rotor iournalled on said stator for rotation aroundits axis, a swash-plate track secured to said stator so as to be angularly adjustable in order to occupy'a plane of obliquity to the statorax-is, a holder carried by said rotor, said holder being arranged for axial movement relatively to the rotor, a follower on said holder engaging said t'rack'so' as to move the holder axially in conformity with the obliquity of the track, and a former held by said holder in working relationship with th'epipe so as tomake the required oblique formation under the control of said track during rotation of the rotor.

"9. An apparatus as claimed by claim 8 in which the means for securing the stator to the normal end face of the pipe eomprisesla'chuck provided on'the stator and presenting a face adapted to be seated against said normal end face, and screws threaded through saidchuck'to engage the outer periphery of'the pipe end.

I0.-An apparatus as claimed by claim- 8 in which the holder comprises a slide bar and the retorhas aslideway' in which said bar is axially slidable but restrained against rotation relatively to the rotor, rollers being interposed between said bar and slideway.

11. An apparatus as claimed by claim 8 in which the swash-plate track is a member with a central opening through which the stator extends and in Which a diametrieal connection provided between said member and the stator about which connection the angular adjustment of-th'e member is effected.

WEATHERSTON WATKINS. 

